London Marathon 2014: Paula Radcliffe's guide to how Mo Farah can win

The three-time winner of the London Marathon passes on her tips to fellow
Briton Mo Farah who is competing over 26.2 miles for the first time

Marathon task: Mo Farah is yet to run a marathon distance as he prepares for challenge on streets of capitalPhoto: EPA

By Paula Radcliffe

3:16PM BST 12 Apr 2014

Start Everyone has their own routine but I used to get up at about 5am and have breakfast three hours before I started my warm-up. I would also be constantly drinking a carbohydrate drink right up until the start.

Between 2-3 miles This is downhill so the split time comes up pretty quickly on the back of the truck. It is important for Mo not to panic when he sees the split and start thinking that everyone has speeded up. This mile is always faster.

Cutty Sark The crowds are always amazing here. This is where I broke away in my first marathon without really trying. The crowd just seemed to lift me. But Mo will not be doing that. The men’s field is far too strong for early breakaways.

Mile 8 (Deptford) The section to Tower Bridge is about staying patient. It is a quieter part of the course in terms of crowds. You do not want to be making any moves at this stage. It is all about conserving energy.

From Tower Bridge to Mile 14 (Limehouse) The crowds will be massive going over Tower Bridge. If any of the pacemakers are only going to halfway, this is where they will drop out. It is then a matter of keeping an eye on the clock. This is where the real race starts.

Miles 16-18 (Isle of Dogs) Anywhere round here Mo could well be going through a rough patch. Every marathon runner gets them and it does not mean that that you are having a bad race. He just needs to keep focused and get through it. This is where breaks are also likely to start happening. Mo will not be interested in making a move himself. He will just want to cover any breaks and rely on his sprint finish.

From 22.5 miles Mo will be feeling that the finish is getting close now. He will be able to see the London Eye and it may help him to count off the bridges as he heads down The Embankment. It is a little mental trick I used that helps make it seem shorter.

24.5 miles (passing Waterloo Bridge) Once you start coming round the bend in the river you can see the Houses of Parliament, which gives you a big psychological boost. Mo will know that from there it is just 1,200 metres to go. Hopefully, he will be in contention at the front.

The Mall The first time you do the London Marathon you keep thinking the finish line is around the next bend, and then the next bend, and then the next one. They play tricks with your mind. But Mo will be on a psychological high with all the noisy support from the crowd. I can guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience.